iPhone To iSatellite?

Thuraya SatSleeve turns iPhone into a satellite phone, handy for folk venturing into the bush and remote areas not covered by mobile netoworks.

You can access all of your iPhone contacts to make calls and send texts, via satellite. It also means you can leave your satellite phone at home. For good.

Thuraya SatSleeve is now on sale for $690 from Optus.

SatSleeve snaps onto the back of an iPhone 4 or 4S activated via an app. An adapter for the iPhone 5 and Apple's newly released 5s is coming soon, apparently.

One of the cleverest things about this is the 'SOS' button, that lets users to make emergency calls to a pre-programmed number of choice, even if the iPhone is not connected to the SatSleeve.

The Thuraya SatSleeve also doubles as a backup battery for the iPhone meaning longer talk time, so handy if a charger isn't near.

"The need to stay in touch is vitally important for our customers in remote and rural areas, especially mining and agricultural businesses, as well as government and not-for-profit organisations, whose teams in the field need to remain in contact", says Paul Sheridan, Vice President of Optus Satellite.

Thuraya satellites give coverage right across Australia, Asia, Middle East, Europe and most of Africa.